The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-30
SCHOOLS.
''Society Girls"
Arthur Marks and Jennie Wilson
Iuara faaf friailda u. l.Is

Il
lege, where he had completed his.
course. He was sitting in Jennie's
parlor one cool night in autumn. when
the following conversation ensued:
Arthur" said Jennie, ~ have been
thinking of some way in which I can
bring our friends together in social
way to celebrate your return from COL
lege. 1t is all the fashion now to have:
progressive euchre parties, and -hs3ye
about decided to give one in your hon-
or next Friday eveningW
To her surprise, al expression Of
pain passed over her friends face ae1
he replied, "You know I appreciated.
your efforts to make me enjoy myself,
but you have chosen the last thing on.
earth that would accomplish such an
end.n S
"Why, Arthur" she exclaimed In q
tone of astonishment. II cannot re-
member the time when you refused
social game Of cards. A game of cards
is the same thing in one place as am
other, and do not see why this would
be worse simply because there would
be more of u.s." ].sI, s'S';:
"No," he replied, "that Is not 1t. If
you had seen what have in the last
year as the results of this cursed game, !.
you would not insist upon it. I want
to tell you something about 1t. /" 9
II am afraid it Is one of those long
Sunday.school stories,n said Jennie
with little pout. "Three-fourths OF
them are so shallow and unreasonable
that they destroy the force Of the NOR.
al they intend to paint. But go on, ]: :
will llsIen.H q
NO. answered Arthur wi.h aober
face. "It is not long. Like most san-
stories, it is unfortunately too shcrt. 6
1t does not seem natural for me to: call
it story it seems yet 80 terrible IN,
its reality. You have heard me speak
of Virgil Williams as the most brill
liant student at college? Well, my sto-
ry relates to him. AS you know, he
was to finish his course this year. i
think he was one of the most popular
fellows there, as well as the most INTEL
ligent. Everybody expected him to
carry off the highest honors, of course.
But about six months ago we all began
to notice change in him. He seen-
ed to take no notice Of either his books :
or his classmates. He was often abb
sent from his recitations, but excused
himself on the ground that he was
sick. We took his word for 1t, as every
one considered him q thoroughly hon
orable fellow, and we were all sorry for
him. Finally one day ventured to-
speak to him about it, and to offer him
some words of consolation. AS I talk,a
ed to him, T was frightened almost atg
the wild, frenzied look which came in-s
to his eye. He arose, pale and tremb-
ling, and said, marks, I am ruined.
man. No one knows what Is the mat
ter with me, but will tell you. Yous
remember two months ago went to 9 s
party at Miss AS. There we were all
pressed to have game of cards. u
played and enjoyed it, but I littleE
thought then that this should be the
cause of my ruin. After went there
I began to play with tho boys for small I
sums of money, then for more, and h-s
nally I began to frequent the gambling
dens of the city. have gone deeper
and deeper in debt. I have spent all
my father allowed me, and I know
there is no hope of ever paying what
owe. The passion for gambling RACES
in my very blood, and I can never con-
quer it.n I tried to reason with him.
but he turned and walked away with
a despairing gesture. Two days later
q telegram was sent to his father that
Virgil had shot himself. The poor
boy left note saying that he could
never be anything but gambler and
would rather die. With his last breath
he cursed the girl who first led him
astray." -,
"OArthur, don't for heavens saka?"
cried Jennie excitedly;" II will never
touch another card while I live. And
the impulsive girl arose and threw the
stack into the blazing fire.
"Come and sit down, Jennie," said
her friend, gently; II ought not to
have told you this. But let me draw
the moral more calmly. You women,
half of you, do not stop to think OF
the influence you are having on men.
There is a time in the life of q man
when the whole course of his after life
hinges upon a single action. And no
i influence of this earth can more easily
turn him hellward or heavenward
than the hand of woman. Perhaps
there is some one of your friends just
ready to be influenced thus by you.
And it seems to me that the tortures Of
hell itself could not be worse than the
consciousness of having led soul into
nordition nor could there be any.
thing more blessed than to feel that
YOU have been instrumental In SAYING
an immortal soul. which can be done
more easilyh keeping temptatlan OUT
of the path of others than by trying 10
win them back after they have fallen,
Stop right here, and consider well be-
fore YOU act. Nearly every time PICK
up a daily paper I notice that Misses
/ This and That, and So and So, leaders
= in society, were the prominent partic'
! inants i'm drive whist party or o
: Progressive euchre' party. They ilt-
: tie think that they may he starting
, wave of influence which will WhIrl q
dozen souls into the maelstrom OF de-
: struction. often wonder of what use
t some of these society girls are to hu.
, manity anyhow. 1 hope you will
!, never suffer yourself to be such 9
E block to the progress of morality and
trne culture as I have known some OF
them to be. This is long sermon,
r but YOU can not blame me for being
! deeply in earnest. ."-Gospel advocate.
Judge Stewart, of baltimore, In 9
recent charge to the grand jury, had
Al